Thicker paper and larger font increased response and completeness in a postal survey.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of font size and paper thickness on the response to, and completion of, a self-completion postal questionnaire among older people with joint pain.


METHODS
Randomized trial. People aged 50 years and older with joint pain who consulted a general practitioner at one of five general practices in Central Cheshire were sent a postal questionnaire. Questionnaire format (large or small font size, thick or thin paper) was randomly allocated using a 2 x 2 factorial design.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were received from 502 out of 650 participants (crude response 77%). Response was significantly higher for participants receiving questionnaires with a larger font size (79.3% vs. 75.2%; hazard ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.56). Paper thickness had no significant effect on response. Completion (measure by assessing double-page turnover error) was increased in participants receiving questionnaires printed on thicker paper (3.2% vs. 7.1%; P=0.049) but was not affected by font size.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that questionnaires in larger font and on thicker paper may produce higher and more complete responses than surveys using standard size font and standard thickness paper, and should therefore be considered in studies among older people.
Mallen
Christian D
CD
Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Center, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. Electronic address: c.d.mallen@cphc.keele.ac.uk.
Dunn
Kate M
KM
Department of Epidemiology, Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Center, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK.
Thomas
Elaine
E
Department of Biostatistics, Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Center, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK.
Peat
George
G
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Center, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK.
D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010209:Paper; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011177:Postal Service; D011327:Printing / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires